Working ship s lower sails in



NJITERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHf-R. WASHINGTON. O C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAML. VERY, JR., OF

MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WORKING SHIPS LOWER SAILS IN COURSES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,233, dated May 11, 1858.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL VERY, J r., of Melrose, county ofgMiddlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Courses of Lower Square Sails of Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawing, making a part 0f this specification, which is a perspective view of so much of a ship as is necessary for the illustration of my said invention.

My invention consists in a method of so constructing the sail and securing it to the vessel that it may be reduced when necessary with greater safety to the ship as well as by a much smaller crew than is required for the ordinary construction, and it may also be carried with greater security in heavy weather.

The novel construction of the sail whereby I am enabled to accomplish these results consists in a means for holding the sail at its lower edge at three separate places, viz., one at each corner, as usual, and one midway between those two. The central holdfast need only be brought into use in strong winds or when reducing sail, which reduction is effected by cluing up the lower corners to the yard while the center is sheeted down to the deck. This may be done readily without sending a man aloft, and by this device the sail is reduced to one half its full surface, the shape then being triangular, all of which will be apparent from the following description of the construction and operation thereof.

At (a.) in the annexed drawing is shown the mainsail of a ship made generally in the usual manner, but in addition thereto it has a strong thimble (b) worked into the footrope, midway between the clues, and it has also strengthening bands, or ropes worked upon the sail extending from said thimble to each upper ear-ring, as shown at (e) and (d), as well as one extending up through the center of the sail, as seen at (E). In

the deck just forward of the mast, is inserted a ringbolt (f). If now the ship be sailing with the wind aft, the clues being secured by the sheets, as usual, and and it be found necessary to reduce the sail, it is readily effected by attaching a tackle between the thimble (b) and the bolt (f). lVhen this is hauled close the sheets may be let go, and the clues being then carried forward by the wind, and the clue-garnets hauled upon, the lower corners of the sail may be drawn up in the manner shown partially at (a), the tackle between (b) and (f) now constituting the sheet of the reduced sail, the ropes (c) and (d) being the leech thereof. If the sail be so bent to the yard as to be movable along the head of the sail, the blocks for the brails may be attached to the vertical rope and the brails be placed parallel with the yard. By letting go the tackle securing the outer upper earrings and keeping the point (b) sheeted home, the sail may then be brailed up close into a perpendicular body just forward of the mast.

When sailing with the wind abeam, or close hauled, preventer sheets and tacks will be necessary for the proper securing of the point (b), the bolts for the preventer sheets being placed in the deck well toward the sides and somewhat aft of the bolt f), and those for the said tacks somewhat forward of said bolt.

I claim-- Constructing what are commonly known as the courses of a vessel viz: the foresail mainsail and crossjack, with a central clue for a sheet or tack in addition to the usual sheet and tack of such sail for the purpose of enabling a lighter crew to handle those sails,l as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

SAMUEL VERY, JR.

Witnesses:

J. P. PinssoN, 

